From the Desk of Steve Shultz:
I really enjoyed reading this word by Wanda Alger about the Body of Christ coming together and knowing WHO we really are...together.
There is no doubt that the world consistently comes against the Church and our values...we see that. AND it's reassuring to read revelation like this...about the Body of Christ being absolutely Necessary:
The Body of Christ is Beautiful and Necessary. The world looks at the Body and disdains Her. Non-believers look at the Body and condemn Her. Many Believers look at the Body and criticize Her. Yet the Lord says today, "She's beautiful!" Unless we see Her as He does, our lack of honor will hinder and limit the work to be done in and through His Bride. There are those who have been hurt by His Body and have shunned Her, thinking they can still worship the Head without His Body. We cannot fully worship the Lord (or even truly know Him) without His Body.
Be encouraged to come together and take your part! (To Subscribe to the Elijah List subscribe here.)
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"You're beautiful!" This is what the Lord is saying to His Bride and what He wants us to say to His Bride, the Body of Christ. He wants us to see the beauty that He does and to make this pronouncement upon His Body in a culture that is increasingly hostile to Her. As He declares: "You're beautiful!" we must come into alignment with Him and speak of the beauty of the Body of Christ like He does.
The Body of Christ is Beautiful and Necessary
The world looks at the Body and disdains Her. Non-believers look at the Body and condemn Her. Many Believers look at the Body and criticize Her. Yet the Lord says today, "She's beautiful!" Unless we see Her as He does, our lack of honor will hinder and limit the work to be done in and through His Bride. There are those who have been hurt by His Body and have shunned Her, thinking they can still worship the Head without His Body. We cannot fully worship the Lord (or even truly know Him) without His Body.
"The eye cannot say to the hand, 'I have no need of you,' nor again the head to the feet, 'I have no need of you.' On the contrary, the parts of the Body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the Body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty." (1 Corinthians 12:21-23)
We are, even now, entering a time where we will come together as Believers. Not because of the powerful worship, great speakers or corporate experience. We will be drawn into fellowship because of our need and love for one another. The Spirit will connect our hearts in deep ways that will go beyond our corporate gatherings, for we will begin to care for one another in ways we have not expected. We will begin to see the beauty of His Bride and honor one another unto love.
Growing in Intimacy
In the coming days, be prepared for many smaller fellowships and house churches to emerge because of a growing need for intimate fellowship with one another. Get ready for more leaders to emerge with a passion for caring for others in intimate and close-knit fellowships. Be prepared for increased and intentional discipleship as Believers begin to deepen their faith and walk, one-on-one and two-on-two. Be ready to see corporate gatherings turn into celebrations, not out of a need to see something happen in the gathering, but because of what has already happened through the fellowship during the week!
As a sign of this manifestation, Body care will become an increased interest and pursuit. Many Believers will even be inspired towards greater physical health, with an increased awareness that their bodies are the temple of the Lord. They will take notice of things they had ignored previously and have a deepened desire to pursue not just divine healing, but divine health. The Holy Spirit is putting us on the alert concerning His Body because He greatly cares for it!
Intercessors and those sensitive to the Spirit will also become impacted with a deepened love and compassion for those they pray for. Deep-felt appreciation and even weeping for others will overtake those who stand in the gap. They may not even understand why they feel this so strongly, yet it will not be a burden, but a JOY, as the love for these brothers and sisters they pray for will be supernaturally inspired and heart-felt.
A Great Multiplication
The reason this is happening is unto a great multiplication of sons and daughters of the Kingdom. These Kingdom-shakers will emerge out of these covenant relationships where they have been loved and mentored by their spiritual families, with healthy spiritual moms and dads. It is out of this healthy Body-life that an entire generation of spiritual sons and daughters will be born and launched into the world.
The power they carry will be much more than signs, wonders and miracles. It will be unto wholeness of life. For we were not created to live from miracle to miracle, but from eternal Kingdom principles that produce well-being and abundance in all aspects of life. The Bride and Body of Christ will exhibit such wholeness and health that the world will be astounded by it.
The Body is beautiful in the Lord's eyes and He has wonderful things in store for Her. But She needs to be taken care of, nurtured and loved. Declare with the Bridegroom His love and affection for His Body. Speak out the blessings over Her and join yourself to Her so that the Body may be whole and perfectly united in mind, heart and soul.
"Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into Him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole Body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the Body grow so that it builds itself up in love" (Ephesians 4:16). (To Subscribe to the Elijah List subscribe here.)
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